If there was any doubt that Dixie Heights football has started a new regime this season, it ended as soon as the team took the field for the first time. Gone were the gray helmets Dixie fans were used to seeing, in their place cherry red helmets with a white “DH” emblem. Several sideline observers remarked on how classic and classy the new helmets looked during the Skyline Crosstown Showdown last Friday. One look at the sharp new uniforms and it was easy to see that a new man was in charge of the Colonels.

That man is Dave Brossart, who spent the past three years as the Colonels’ offensive coordinator and line coach. He was hired to take over for Tom Spritzky, who retired after 17 years at the helm for Dixie.

“Tom was great to me,” Brossart said of his predecessor. “You learn a lot from every coach you work with, and I learned a lot from Tom. The program is better off for him having been here.”

Brossart has prior head coaching experience, including two years at the helm for the Covington Catholic Colonels. Being with Dixie the past three seasons helped both Brossart and the team with the changes.

“I knew the kids, the community, the administration already, so it was an easy transition,” Brossart said. His players had petitioned for him to become the new head coach during the search last winter. “That feels good to know they believe in me,” he said. “They bought in instantly.”

This is not to say Brossart and the Colonels don’t have challenges this season. While Spritzky typically fielded teams that ranged from good to great, last season Dixie went 3-8.

“We are a young, young program,” Brossart said. “We will continue to improve, and find our leaders.”

An early candidate for a team leader is sophomore quarterback Drew Moore, who threw for a touchdown and ran for another in Dixie’s season opener. He agreed with his coach, saying, “The leadership change is the biggest thing. The younger people have to step up.”

Against Newport Central Catholic, Moore showed nice touch on his passes when he had time to throw. He also showed no hesitation in taking open running lanes when they presented themselves for him, such as taking the ball in from 79 yards out on the first play from scrimmage.

Youth will be served, but coach Brossart made it clear that it will not serve as an excuse for the Colonels this year.

“This is the 76th Dixie team,” he said. “We have a very strong tradition here. We want our kids to understand that they are representing the people who were here before them.”